Tuning-peg for musical instruments



(No Model.)

KUENSTLER. TUNING 0R MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 464,328. Patented Dec. 1, 1891.

reception of the tuning-pegs.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD KUENSTLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TUNING-PEG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,328, dated December 1, 1891.

Application filed August 3, 1891. $erial No. 401,482- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD KUENSTLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Tuning-Pegs for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a tuning-peg for musical instruments that it can be used in place of the ordinary tuning-peg without any change in the construction of the instrument, but will provide for the secure retention of the peg in the position to which it has been adjusted in tightening the string. This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of part of the neck of a banjo, guitar, or like instrument, illustrating one of my improved tun-' ing-pegs used in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the application of my improved tuning-peg to a violin or like instrument having a hollow neck; and Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a modification of my invention.

In Fig. 1, A represents part of the neck of a banjo, guitar, or like musical instrument having in the same tapering openings for the These openings, however, instead of being plain on the interior surface, as usual, are partly threaded at the large end, as at a',for the reception of a nut 19, the head of which projects beyond the neck of the instrument and is squared or otherwise shaped for the reception of a suitable tool whereby it may be readily turned. The tapered tuning-peg d is adapted to the plain tapered portion a of the opening in the neck and projects beyond the small end of said opening to receive the string, the reduced stem of the peg passing through a central opening in the nut b and being squared beyond said nutfor the reception of the usual knob or button f, which is retained in place by a cap-screw g or other equivalent means. When the nut 12 has been screwed up so as to press the tapered peg d tightly into the tapered portion a of the opening, the frictional contact thus caused will effectually prevent any back movement of said peg or consequent loosening of the string, while it is not sufficient to prevent turning of the peg by hand.

In applying my invention to the tuningpegs of violins or other musical instruments having hollow heads A the tuning-peg has by preference two tapered portions d (1, adapted to tapered openings in the opposite sides of the hollow neck, the larger of these openings being threaded in part for the reception of the tightening-nut, as shown in Fig. 2.

My invention is, as will be evident, applicable to tuning-pegs having the spool for winding the string between the nut and the head or button, as shown in Fig. 3, as well as to pegs in which such spool is beyond the neck, as in Fig. 1, or between the opposite side bars of the neck, as in Fig. 2, the main object of my invention being attained in either oase-tl1at is to say, the tightening-nut for the peg being so constructed and applied that the improved pegs can be used in the same openings which are now provided in musical instruments for the reception of the ordinary pegs, the nut forming its own thread in the large end of the opening when first inserted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The within-described tuning-peg for musical instruments, said peg having a spool for winding the string, a tapered portion adapted to a tapered seat in the neck of the instrument, a knob or button whereby the peg may be turned, and a nut free to turn on the stem of the peg and bearing against the tapered portion of the same, said nut being externally threaded for adaptation to a threaded portion of the opening in the neck of the instrument, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the neck of the instrument having a tapered opening which at the smaller end presents a plain taper and at the larger end is internally threaded, a tuning-peg having a winding spool, a butten or head, and a tapered portion adapted to the tapered portion of said opening, a nut bearing upon the tapered portion of the peg and free to turn on the stem of the same, said nut being externally threaded and adapted to the internal thread at the larger end of the opening in the neck of the instrument, IO substantially as specified.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

I RICHARD KUENSTLER.

Witnesses:

EUGENE ELTERICH, HARRY SMITH. 

